Chokeberry, scientifically known as Aronia, is a genus of deciduous shrubs native to eastern North America, celebrated for both their ornamental and health benefits. These shrubs produce small, round berries that come in black, red, and sometimes purple, which are incredibly rich in antioxidants, particularly anthocyanins, vitamins, and minerals. The berries, while astringent when eaten fresh due to their high tannin content, become more palatable when cooked, dried, or sweetened, making them popular for jams, jellies, pies, and health drinks. Chokeberries are also noted for their nutritional profile, supporting heart health, boosting the immune system, and potentially having anti-inflammatory properties.
Chokeberries are hardy plants, thriving in USDA zones 3 to 8. They grow best in full sun to partial shade and can adapt to a wide range of soil types, from wet to well-drained, making them suitable for various landscaping scenarios, including rain gardens and erosion control. Chokeberries are low-maintenance once established, requiring minimal pruning except to control their suckering habit, which can be beneficial for creating dense hedges or groundcovers. Their white spring flowers attract pollinators, and the berries provide food for birds and other wildlife, enhancing garden biodiversity.
In spring, they offer clusters of small, white flowers; in summer, their glossy, dark green leaves provide a backdrop to the developing berries; and come fall, the foliage turns spectacular shades of red, orange, and purple, often outshining many other plants in the garden. The berries persist into winter in some varieties, adding a splash of color during the dormant months. This combination of aesthetic appeal and functional benefits makes chokeberries a versatile choice for both edible and ornamental gardening, appealing to those interested in sustainable, multi-purpose landscaping.
Chokeberry Varieties
Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
- Berry Color: Black
- Foliage: Glossy, dark green leaves turning red-orange in fall
This is the most common species, known for its small, dark purple-black berries that are exceptionally high in antioxidants. It grows to about 3 to 6 feet tall, with white flowers in spring. The plant is adaptable, thriving in both wet and dry soils, making it excellent for landscaping in various conditions. Its berries are somewhat astringent when eaten fresh but become more palatable when processed or sweetened.
Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)
- Berry Color: Red
- Foliage: Bright green leaves turning brilliant red in fall
Red chokeberry is slightly larger, growing up to 6 to 12 feet, and is noted for its bright red berries which persist into winter, providing ornamental value. The berries are less astringent than black chokeberries but still benefit from processing to enhance flavor. This species prefers moist, well-drained soils and is often used in rain gardens or for erosion control due to its ability to colonize through suckering.
Purple Chokeberry (Aronia x prunifolia)
- Berry Color: Purple
- Foliage: Green leaves with excellent red fall color
This is a natural hybrid between black and red chokeberries, combining traits of both parents. It grows to about 8 to 12 feet tall and is known for its deep purple berries. The purple chokeberry offers a unique berry color and is valued for its ornamental qualities, including bright fall foliage. Its berries are also rich in antioxidants, like its parent species, but are somewhat less common in cultivation.
Autumn Magic Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa ‘Autumn Magic’)
- Berry Color: Black
- Foliage: Bright green turning to bright red and purple in fall
A cultivar of black chokeberry, ‘Autumn Magic’ is prized for its compact growth habit (3-5 feet tall) and brilliant fall foliage. It produces an abundance of black berries and white flowers, making it a dual-purpose plant for both edible and ornamental use. This variety is particularly noted for its resistance to pests and diseases.
Viking Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa ‘Viking’)
- Berry Color: Black
- Foliage: Green, turning to red and orange in fall
‘Viking’ is a commercial favorite for its large, juicy berries and high yield. It grows to about 6 to 8 feet and has been developed for its superior fruit quality, including larger berries with a slightly sweeter taste than wild black chokeberries. This cultivar is well-suited for both home gardens and commercial production, offering excellent antioxidant content.
Nero Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa ‘Nero’)
- Berry Color: Black
- Foliage: Glossy green, with good fall color
‘Nero’ is another high-yielding cultivar, similar to ‘Viking’, but with an even more compact growth habit (about 3-4 feet tall). Its berries are notably large and packed with antioxidants. This variety is particularly valued for its late but substantial yield, making it a good choice for gardeners looking for both ornamental and edible qualities.
Brilliantissima Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliantissima’)
- Berry Color: Red
- Foliage: Green, turning to a spectacular bright red in fall
This cultivar of red chokeberry is renowned for its fall foliage, which is among the brightest reds in the plant kingdom. It grows to about 6 to 8 feet and produces an abundance of red berries, enhancing its ornamental appeal. ‘Brilliantissima’ is selected for its improved berry production and vibrant autumn display.
Iroquois Beauty™ Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa ‘Morton’)
- Berry Color: Black
- Foliage: Green, with orange-red fall color
A compact cultivar, growing to about 2-4 feet, ‘Iroquois Beauty’ is known for its dense, rounded habit and brilliant fall foliage. It offers black berries and white flowers in spring, making it ideal for smaller landscapes or as a groundcover. This variety is highly adaptable and disease-resistant, making it a low-maintenance choice.
Galicjanka Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa ‘Galicjanka’)
- Berry Color: Black
- Foliage: Green, with good fall color
‘Galicjanka’ is recognized for its large, sweet berries and high yield, originally developed in Poland. It’s a bit taller, reaching up to 8 feet, and is highly valued for its fruit quality. This cultivar is popular in both home and commercial gardens for its productivity and the health benefits of its berries.
McKenzie Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa ‘McKenzie’)
- Berry Color: Black
- Foliage: Green, with red fall color
‘McKenzie’ is a cultivar noted for its cold hardiness and large, flavorful berries. Growing to about 6-12 feet, this variety is adaptable to various soil types and is particularly suited for northern climates. Its berries are rich in antioxidants, and the plant’s vigor makes it excellent for both ornamental and edible purposes.
Rubina Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa ‘Rubina’)
- Berry Color: Black
- Foliage: Green, turning reddish in fall
‘Rubina’ is a Hungarian cultivar known for its very large berries and early ripening. It grows to about 6-8 feet tall and is valued for its high yield and the quality of its fruit, which is slightly sweet and less astringent than some other varieties. This makes it particularly popular for juice production and fresh eating.
Elata Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa var. elata)
- Berry Color: Black
- Foliage: Green, with notable fall color
‘Elata’ is a variety of black chokeberry that’s slightly larger in stature than the species type, reaching up to 8 feet. It’s prized for its large, abundant fruit clusters and reduced suckering compared to other varieties, making it easier to manage in a garden setting. The berries are high in antioxidants, and the plant offers good fall color, enhancing its use in ornamental landscaping.
Low Scape Mound® Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa ‘UCONNAM165’)
- Berry Color: Black
- Foliage: Green, turning to purple-red in fall
This dwarf variety grows to just 1 to 2 feet high, with a spreading habit ideal for groundcover or low hedges. ‘Low Scape Mound’ is perfect for small spaces or container gardening, offering white flowers in spring, black berries in summer, and stunning fall color, all on a very compact plant.
Low Scape Hedger® Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa ‘UCONNAM002’)
- Berry Color: Black
- Foliage: Green, with brilliant fall color
Similar to ‘Low Scape Mound’, this cultivar is designed for creating low hedges or borders, growing slightly taller at around 3 to 5 feet. It’s known for its neat, tidy appearance, white spring flowers, black summer berries, and vibrant fall foliage, making it a multifunctional choice for landscapes.
Morton’s Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa ‘Morton’)
- Berry Color: Black
- Foliage: Green, with orange-red fall color
This is another mention of ‘Iroquois Beauty’ but under a different name, emphasizing its adaptability with a focus on its commercial name. It’s a compact, hardy shrub with excellent fruit production and fall color, suitable for both ornamental and edible landscapes.
Ursynów Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa ‘Ursynów’)
- Berry Color: Black
- Foliage: Green, with good fall color
Developed in Poland, ‘Ursynów’ is known for its high yield of large, sweet berries. Growing to about 6-8 feet, it’s highly valued for its fruit quality, which is among the sweetest of chokeberries, making it excellent for fresh consumption and processing.
Nero 2 Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa ‘Nero 2’)
- Berry Color: Black
- Foliage: Green, with red fall color
An improvement over the original ‘Nero’, ‘Nero 2’ offers even larger berries and a slightly more compact growth habit (about 4 to 6 feet). It’s bred for its high antioxidant content and the ease with which its berries can be used in culinary applications.
Erecta Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa ‘Erecta’)
- Berry Color: Black
- Foliage: Green, with excellent fall color
As the name suggests, ‘Erecta’ has a more upright growth habit than many chokeberries, reaching heights of about 6 feet. It’s valued for its neat form, making it suitable for formal landscapes or as a specimen plant, while still providing black berries and attractive fall foliage.
Hugin Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa ‘Hugin’)
- Berry Color: Black
- Foliage: Green, turning to red in fall
Developed in Denmark, ‘Hugin’ is known for its very high yield of black berries, which are slightly larger than average. This variety grows to about 5-6 feet and is particularly noted for its resistance to diseases and pests, making it a low-maintenance choice.
Munin Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa ‘Munin’)
- Berry Color: Black
- Foliage: Green, with red fall color
A companion variety to ‘Hugin’, ‘Munin’ is another Danish cultivar with similar attributes but with a focus on even better fruit quality for eating fresh. It grows to a similar height and is appreciated for its strong, healthy growth.
Viking 2 Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa ‘Viking 2’)
- Berry Color: Black
- Foliage: Green, with good fall color
While ‘Viking’ is already well-regarded, ‘Viking 2’ aims to outdo it with even larger berries and a higher yield. This variety is tailored for commercial production but is also excellent for home gardens looking for substantial fruit yields.
Aron Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia ‘Aron’)
- Berry Color: Red
- Foliage: Bright green, with brilliant red fall color
‘Aron’ is a cultivar of red chokeberry selected for its vivid fall foliage and bright red berries that persist into winter. It grows to about 6-8 feet and is used for its ornamental qualities as well as its fruit, which can be made into jams or used in landscapes for winter interest.
Brilliant Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliant’)
- Berry Color: Red
- Foliage: Green, turning to a vibrant red in fall
Very similar to ‘Brilliantissima’, this variety is noted for its exceptional fall color, which can be even more intense. ‘Brilliant’ provides red berries that last through winter, adding color to the garden when most plants are dormant.
Autumn Brilliance Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia ‘Autumn Brilliance’)
- Berry Color: Red
- Foliage: Green, with spectacular red fall color
This cultivar is celebrated for its fall foliage, which might be one of the most brilliant reds in the plant kingdom. Growing to about 6 to 8 feet, it’s not just the leaves that provide autumn interest; the red berries add to its appeal, making it a favorite for both edible and ornamental use.